Four other British cave divers involved in the operation are also receiving civilian gallantry awards for exceptional bravery protecting others.

Richard Stanton and John Volanthen, the first to reach the 12 stranded children and their team coach, are awarded the George Medal, while Christopher Jewell and Jason Mallinson receive the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.

Harry Kane gets an MBE (Picture: Getty Images)

Rugby legend Doddie Weir will be awarded an OBE for services to rugby (Picture: PA)

They are among 12 recipients of bravery awards announced at the same time as the main honours list, including seven firefighters who saved elderly residents from a massive fire at a care home in Cheshunt in 2017.

A Queen’s Commendation for Bravery goes to 14-year-old Joe Rowlands, from Cheshire, whose sustained efforts saved his father Paul from drowning after their kayak capsized off Anglesey.

Twiggy said after the honour was finally revealed: ‘It’s wonderful, but it makes me giggle. The hardest thing has been keeping it a secret.

‘I’m a very proud Brit. I feel I’m an ambassador for Britain, I always have felt I am one because I think it’s the best country in the world and I travel the world all the time and I’m known throughout the world and, you know, being British is one of my things.’

Yinka Shonibare who has been awarded a CBE for services to Art in the New Year Honours list (Picture: PA)

Greggs Chief Executive Roger Whiteside who has been awarded an OBE for services to women and equality (Picture: PA)

Pullman, the creator of the hugely successful His Dark Materials trilogy, said he was ‘very surprised and honoured’ to receive his knighthood for services to literature.

He added: ‘I’m most grateful of all to those who continue to read my books, and I hope they don’t have to work as hard as those who edit them.’

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Carter, who played Mr Carson in the hit British period drama Downton Abbey, said he was ‘delighted’ his OBE for services to drama came in time to be seen by his 99-year-old mother, who ‘lit up at the good news’.

He added: ‘I’m hoping for a 2019 of good news and kindness. It seems perilous times and it would be good to get a bit of kindness, sanity and good cheer back into the world.’

Palin, who gets a knighthood in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas list for his international contributions to travel, culture and geography, said news of the accolade had not sunk in yet.

Michael Palin gets a knighthood (Picture: Rex Features)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s personal assistant Natasha Archer has been made a member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) by the Queen (Picture: PA)

He said: ‘I don’t think it will be until I see the envelopes addressing me as Sir Michael Palin. I have been a knight before, in Python films. I have been several knights including Sir Galahad and the knight who said, “ni”.’

He added: ‘I am so very pleased that I was able to sort of morph from being Python and becoming a traveller, or a presenter of travel programmes. That gave me the chance to see an enormous amount of the world.’

Broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham said ‘our wildlife needs a voice to shout above the noise’ after being awarded a CBE for services to nature conservation.

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Among those recognised for their response to the London and Manchester terror attacks in 2017 are Paul Woodrow, operations director at the London Ambulance Service, and Joy Ongcachuy, a theatre nurse at St Barts Hospital, who get OBEs for services to NHS leadership and healthcare respectively.

Tacita Dean who has been awarded a CBE for services to Art in the New Year Honours list (Picture: PA)

Heather Smart who has been awarded an MBE for services to the advancement of women in NIFRS (Picture: PA)

Theresa Lam, family liaison lead for Greater Manchester Police, gets a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to policing and the community.

No awards will go to anyone involved in Grenfell Tower relief work until the public inquiry has concluded following talks with emergency services and community groups, organisers said.

Some 544 women are recognised in the list, representing 47% of the total, the lowest percentage since 2013.

They include Stagecoach co-founder Ann Gloag, to be made a dame for services to business and philanthropy, and former CEO of Virgin Money Jayne-Anne Gadhia, who also gets a damehood for services to the financial industry and to women in the industry.

Bafta-winning actress Thandie Newton, who starred in Oscar-winning film Crash and more recently the futuristic drama Westworld, gets an OBE for services to film and charity.

Thandie Newton who has been awarded an OBE for services to Film and to charity (Picture: PA)

Margaret Atwood becomes a member of the Order of the Companions of honour for services to literature (Picture: Rex Features)

Daphne Selfe, the world’s oldest working professional model at 90, gets a BEM for services to women and fashion, while the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar Glenda Bailey becomes a dame in the overseas list for services to the GREAT Britain Campaign and UK prosperity, charity, fashion and journalism.

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Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood, author of the feminist dystopian work The Handmaid’s Tale, becomes a member of the Order of the Companions of honour for services to literature.

Actress Sophie Okonedo, who starred in Hotel Rwanda and more recently in Antony And Cleopatra at the National Theatre, has her OBE upgraded to a CBE for services to drama.

Dr Helen Pankhurst, a senior adviser at CARE international, and great-granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, also gets a CBE, for services to gender equality.

There is an MBE for Claire Turnham, founder of the Victims of Viagogo group, which helps customers reclaim money on event tickets, for services to consumer rights.

She said: ‘We started as a one person group and we’re now a thriving movement which really reflects people who had the courage to stand up and speak out about ticket abuse and about the misery that this company has caused.’

In sport, England football captain Harry Kane gets an MBE while national team manager Gareth Southgate gets an OBE, both for services to football and in recognition of England’s semi-final run at the 2018 World Cup.

Kane found out about his award shortly before Tottenham’s Premier League game against Southampton on December 5 after his fiancee urged him to get in touch.

The striker told Spurs’ official website: ‘I thought something was wrong! But Kate was excited and told me that we’d had a letter from the Queen saying we’d get an MBE.

‘I’m proud for her as well and the whole family. It’s not just for me. We’re part of a journey together. It shows that the hard work has paid off.’

Former England cricket captain Alastair Cook is knighted for services to cricket while Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas gets an upgrade from MBE to OBE to add to his BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2018 accolade.

Vern Unsworth from the British Cave Rescue Team who has been awarded an MBE (Picture: PA)

PSNI of Inspector Rosie Leech who has been awarded an MBE for services to Policing and the Community in Northern Ireland (Picture: PA)

Ex-England rugby skipper Bill Beaumont, who is currently World Rugby chairman, is knighted for services to Rugby Union Football.

Motor neurone disease sufferer and former Scottish rugby player George ‘Doddie’ Weir gets an OBE for services to rugby, motor neurone disease research and the community in the Scottish Borders.

Former footballer Leroy Rosenior, now vice-president of Show Racism the Red Card, gets an MBE for services to tackling discrimination in sport.

In politics, veteran Brexiteer John Redwood and his Tory colleague Gary Streeter, who voted Remain, are both knighted for political and public service along with Labour’s Deputy Chief Whip Alan Campbell.